Articles tagged with Polymers
Developed by University of Tsukuba researchers, the wearable patch accurately measures insensible perspiration, allowing for real-time hydration monitoring. The patch also detects variations in pH levels and chemical components, making it a promising tool for dehydration management, stress monitoring, and disease detection.
Researchers from Chiba University develop sustainable method for producing biodegradable polymers using cuttlefish ink melanin. Decomposition products are converted into polymeric materials with potential applications in circular economies.
Researchers at Princeton and UCLA developed a passive mechanism to cool buildings in summer and warm them in winter by restricting radiant heat flows. Common materials like polyvinyl fluoride and plastics can be adapted for this purpose, achieving energy savings and thermal comfort beyond traditional building envelopes.
Researchers have developed a method to deliver drugs to specific areas of the body using ultrasound waves, triggering drug release from stable nanocarriers. The approach is made both safe and efficient for the first time, paving the way for clinical trials.
A team of researchers from DGIST developed a soft and flexible balloon implant for controlled and targeted drug delivery. The balloon demonstrated sustained drug release for over five months with minimal variation in dose, and showed reduced foreign body responses compared to previous devices.
Researchers have developed a novel solubilizer for olaparib, a selective PARP inhibitor, using π-π-stacked poly (ɛ-caprolactone)-based micelles. The studies found that these micelles improved the solubility of olaparib and exhibited sustained release behavior in vitro.
Researchers aim to create polymers that can form the basis of effective sensors for applications in physiological, environmental, and Internet of Things monitoring. The goal is to increase energy efficiency and broaden material choices, enabling devices to operate at low voltage and interact with ions and transport ionic charges.
Researchers from the University of Birmingham have designed a new type of recyclable resin made from biosourced materials for use in 3D printing applications. The feedstock is made from lipoic acid, a naturally occurring fatty acid molecule, and can be recycled back into its constituent parts.
A Binghamton University professor investigates the adaptive response of fire ant rafts to mechanical load, discovering that they exhibit catch bond behavior under force, which enhances cohesion for survival. This phenomenon is being explored to develop artificial materials with autonomous self-strengthening properties.
A research team at Waseda University has discovered a family of poly(thiourea)s (PTUs) with exceptional optical properties, including transparency over 92% and a refractive index of 1.81. The polymers can be easily degraded into simpler molecules, making them suitable for sustainable optoelectronic applications.
Scientists at POSTECH create conducting polymers with exceptional electrical conductivity, rivaling graphene's performance. The breakthrough achieves ultrafast electron mobility and long phase coherence length, overcoming a major challenge in organic semiconductors.
An international team of scientists used quasi-elastic neutron scattering to set a benchmark for a mixture of lithium salt and organic polymer electrolyte. This could enable more energy-dense electrodes and result in more powerful lithium batteries.
Scientists from Osaka University create borane molecules that exhibit red-shifted light emission upon binding to fluoride, enabling versatile materials for electronic display and chemical sensing applications. The researchers also achieve fine-tuning of the color of light emission by adjusting the quantity of added fluoride.
A new study reveals that retention ponds and wetlands can significantly reduce the amount of tyre particles entering aquatic environments, with an average reduction of 75%. The research found that tyre wear particles outweigh other forms of microplastics, but are also removed in greater quantities.
Researchers develop a new method using gold nanoparticle decorated polymers (GNDP) to improve detection of antigen-antibody reactions in infectious diseases. This approach results in higher optical density and improved sensitivity compared to traditional methods.
A team of Rice University researchers has developed an analytical model that can predict the curing time of platinum-catalyzed silicone elastomers as a function of temperature. The model could help reduce energy waste and improve throughput for elastomer-based components manufacturing, enabling more efficient soft robotics design.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a method to break down lignin into small molecules similar to oxygenated hydrocarbons. This process could lead to the creation of renewable chemicals that replace traditional petroleum-based products.
Researchers from Osaka University have developed a combined microscopy technique that captures the nanoscale behavior of azo-polymer films triggered by laser light. This allows for real-time observation with high spatiotemporal resolution, shedding light on the mechanism of light-driven deformation in these materials.
Scientists from the University of Surrey have developed a technique for electrospinning 3D scaffolds, allowing skin grafts to be grown directly from a patient's own skin. The scaffolds showed improved viability and functionality compared to traditional methods.
Researchers developed a UV-sensitive tape that can transfer 2D materials like graphene with ease, reducing damage and increasing efficiency. The new technology allows for flexible plastics to be used in device substrates, expanding potential applications.
Researchers from PolyU develop a durable, highly selective and energy-efficient CO2 electroreduction system that converts CO2 into ethylene for industrial purposes. The APMA system achieves high specificity of 50% and operates for over 1,000 hours at an industrial-level current of 10A.
Amanda Marciel, assistant professor at Rice University, receives a $670,406 NSF CAREER Award to develop synthetic networks with gel-like softness and high elasticity. Her research aims to create new elastomers with controlled structure-function relationships.
Researchers introduce trehalose into hydrogels to form hydrogen bond interactions, improving dehydration resistance, lubrication performance, mechanical properties, and manufacturing accuracy. This discovery proposes a new design principle for high-precision manufacturing of hydrogel materials.
Researchers at the University of Michigan developed a metal-free magnetic gel that can power soft robots and guide medical capsules. The gel's strong, non-toxic magnetism enables flexible robotics applications, while its biodegradable properties make it suitable for medical operations.
Researchers at Shinshu University propose a new chemical process to depolymerize cyclic α-substituted styrene-based vinyl polymers, resulting in the recovery of monomer precursors. This efficient recycling system can facilitate effective resource circulation and development of new plastic recycling technologies.
Researchers have developed twisted ringbots that can roll forward, spin like a record, and follow an orbital path around a central point. These devices can navigate and map unknown environments without human or computer control.
A new composite material, engineered using computer algorithms and 3D printing, can change its behavior in response to temperature changes. The material is designed to perform specific tasks depending on the environment, enabling future generations of autonomous robotics.
A new technology enables the printing of complex robots with soft, elastic, and rigid materials in one go. This allows for the creation of delicate structures and parts with cavities as desired.
Researchers at CSU and the University of St. Andrews created an effective antimicrobial material that slowly releases nitric oxide, killing bacteria and fungus over time.
A team of researchers has developed a novel experimental system to simultaneously measure the mechanical properties and internal structure of rubber-like materials. The study found that strain within these materials is non-uniform, depending on the shape and size of composite particles.
Researchers have developed a plastic-eating E. coli that can efficiently turn polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste into adipic acid, a feedstock for making nylon materials and other products. The engineered microbes converted up to 79% of PET waste into adipic acid, offering a potential solution to the global plastic waste problem.
Scientists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have developed a system that can adjust the size, shape, and refractive index of microscopic lenses in real-time. The design uses hydrogels and polydimethylsiloxane to create a dynamic platform for soft robotics and liquid optics applications.
A team of researchers developed soft yet durable materials that glow in response to mechanical stress, using single-celled algae and a seaweed-based polymer. The materials demonstrate inherent simplicity, no electronics needed, and can be used as mechanical sensors or soft robotics, while also being resilient and self-sustaining.
Researchers from Osaka University have developed a bioprinting technique that enables the creation of complex soft tissue structures with high fidelity. The method uses a printing support to facilitate gelation of a bioink, resulting in cell viability and viability for up to two weeks.
Researchers introduce a game-changing technology that enables fabrication of high-resolution, transformable 3D structures at the micro/nanoscale using Two-photon polymerization-based (TTP-based) 4D printing. The technology has vast potential for applications in biomedicine, flexible electronics, soft robotics, and aerospace.
Researchers found an average of 41 microplastic particles per square meter per day settled from the atmosphere, while sediment samples contained denser particles with higher population densities. The study suggests clothing is likely the prominent source of microplastics to the Ganges River system.
Lehigh University researchers have discovered that applying magnetic forces to individual 'microroller' particles can spur collective motion, allowing the grains to flow uphill, up walls, and climb stairs. This counterintuitive phenomenon has potential applications in mixing, segregating materials, and microrobotics.
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed a new design strategy for creating mechanoresponsive materials with high thermal tolerance. The study identified two key factors that determine the thermal stability of these materials: radical-stabilization energy and Hammett constants.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have created a soft robot that can navigate simple mazes without human or computer guidance. The new robot has an asymmetrical design, allowing it to turn and move in arcs, enabling it to navigate complex and dynamic environments.
Scientists successfully synthesized long-chain mobile polymers on metallic surfaces using N-heterocyclic ballbot-type carbenes. This breakthrough enables self-assembly into ordered domains and cooperative behavior, holding promise for new applications in nanoelectronics and surface functionalization.
Researchers from Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) have developed a fully recyclable, flame-retardant epoxy resin-based plastic. The new material retains excellent thermomechanical properties while being reshaped like a thermoplast due to the addition of a special phosphonate ester molecule.
UC Santa Barbara researchers develop new catalytic process that can convert polyolefins from single-use plastics into valuable alkylaromatics, underlying surfactants in detergents. The improved method reduces production time and energy input, enabling potential commercialization and large-scale use.
A team of researchers at the University of Florida has developed a new method for recycling plastics that promises to reduce energy requirements without sacrificing quality. This breakthrough approach uses chemical recycling and depolymerization, which can produce recycled plastic with similar or better properties than the original mat...
A breakthrough solution has been discovered to recycle blended fabrics like polyester/cotton using a simple technique involving heat, non-toxic solvent, and household ingredient. This environmentally friendly approach can recover cotton on a scale of hundreds of grams while preserving the plastic component.
Semi-crystalline polymers' structure and properties depend on molecular chain entanglement. The researchers developed a model to predict their microscopic structure and properties, offering potential improvements or replacements with more sustainable materials.
The study, published in Advanced Functional Materials, reveals a novel light-activated material that can be used to effectively reshape and thicken damaged corneal tissue, promoting healing and recovery for patients with keratoconus. The technology has tremendous potential to impact millions of people suffering from corneal diseases.
Researchers have developed a set of biocatalysts that enable precise control over free radical reactions, solving a decades-old challenge in asymmetric catalysis. The metalloenzymes can selectively convert chiral compounds into desired products, opening up new possibilities for the synthesis of bioactive molecules and everyday polymers.
Researchers successfully fabricate a microlens on a single-mode polarization-stable VCSEL chip using 2-photon-polymerization 3D printing, reducing beam divergence from 14.4° to 3° and enabling compact optical gas sensors with improved performance.
Researchers from Shinshu University develop a novel polymer interlocking mechanism to produce tough and additive-free latex films. The rotaxane-based strategy results in unusual crack propagation behavior, increasing tear resistance and preserving flexibility.
Researchers developed super flexible composite semiconductors using inkjet printing, outperforming previous studies with up to 40% polymer addition. The material maintains electronic transport properties while achieving high flexibility and foldability.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a new way to recycle polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic using electricity and chemical reactions. In small-scale lab experiments, PET was broken down into its basic building blocks, which can be recovered and potentially reused to make new plastic bottles.
Researchers have developed a biodegradable ultrasound device that can open the blood-brain barrier, allowing chemotherapy to penetrate and kill brain cancer cells. The device is as powerful as traditional ceramic-based devices and has shown promising results in animal trials.
A novel technique allows for the observation of colloidal particle degradation in real-time, providing valuable insight into the mechanisms of micro- and nanoplastics origin and change over time. The study demonstrates the potential to assess temperature variations, ultraviolet light, and stress on nanoscale particles.
Researchers developed a model to predict microplastic concentrations in Swiss waters, finding that around half of the microplastics remain in the country. The Rhine river near Basel has the highest concentration of microplastics, with major cities contributing significantly to pollution.
A team of researchers from China and the UK has developed new ways to optimise the production of solar fuels by creating novel photocatalysts. These photocatalysts, such as titanium dioxide with boron nitride, can absorb more wavelengths of light and produce more hydrogen compared to traditional methods.
Researchers investigated LECs made from Super Yellow and found that increasing voltage applied resulted in increased emission and ESR signals. Theoretical analysis showed holes and electrons being electrochemically doped into the material, leading to a correlation with luminance increase.
Researchers at HSE MIEM develop mathematical model to enhance supercapacitor electrical capacitance by utilizing polymers with large pore sizes. This enables storing more energy and preventing potential adverse effects.
Researchers have developed a modular system to recognize chiral molecules, which could lead to more effective methods of separating enantiomers in drugs. The system uses metallopolymers with chirality to sense two enantiomeric molecules through electrochemical interactions.
Scientists have discovered a universal method to bond soft materials together using electricity, eliminating the need for traditional adhesives. The new technique, called electroadhesion, uses oppositely charged materials to form strong bonds that can withstand gravity and last for years.
Xiayun Zhao receives $657,610 NSF CAREER Award for her research in photopolymer additive manufacturing. She aims to develop a smart digital light processing method that uses two wavelengths to control curing and curb exposure, improving the accuracy and strength of printed parts.